Day 1 in Davos
Welcome to Davos, nestled
in the Swiss Alps! Upon arrival, make
your transfer to your destination, arrive at your hotel, check in and do not
give in to jet lag! There is so much for you to see and do.
Davos offers some of
the best skiing and snowboarding nature has to offer, as well as plenty of
scenic activities during the warmer months. Your itinerary in this municipality
will depend on the time of year you visit.
In the center of Davos,
visitors will find a wide range of excellent shopping, with numerous
boutiques, cafés and restaurants. We recommend you start your
afternoon here to enjoy the town, have a leisurely lunch at one of the charming
cafes take in the ambiance.
During the off
season, generally the Spring and Fall months, the center of Davos is home to a lively market. Traders with stalls
peddling everything from clothing to artwork to produce can be found here. Make
sure to browse the markets if you`re looking for a bargain in a colorful
atmosphere. For an authentic Swiss snack, you`re sure to find
fresh Magenbrot (local spice bread)
and Bratwusrt (Swiss sausage) at numerous
stands.
If you enjoy art,
make sure to stop in the Kirchner Museum to check out the world`s largest collection of works by the
German Expressionist Ernst Ludwig Kirchner (1880 – 1938), housed in an
innovative modern museum building. This museum
was established in honor of Kirchner who spent the last 20 years of his life in
Davos. The museum boasts more than 1,400 Kirchner paintings that cover both his
early Expressionists days in Berlin, Munich and Dresden and his later Swiss years.
Finish your afternoon with a ride to
the top of the Parsenn
Funicular. The mountain restaurant at the top, Bergrestaurant Weissfluhjoch,
welcomes you at 8,736 with breathtaking views of the picturesque mountain
panorama. You`ll find seating available both indoors and outdoors. This is a
great way to finish off the day while enjoying some home-style Swiss cuisine.
Day 2 in Davos
If you are visiting in the summer
months, grab a bike and hit the trails in and around Davos` Klosters. Whether
you`re an experienced expert or a leisure biker, Davos offers many biking
options for fun loving families and the more adventurous rider. The path that extends from Gotschnaboden to Klosters is free to the public and offers a great ride of
intermediate difficulty, where you`ll be challenged but not overwhelmed, while
the 6 vertical mile free-ride tour is an extreme thrill, normally requiring
five cables cars to reach the top. There are also plenty of easygoing options
for families in the lower valleys.
Another beautiful way
to spend time in nature is to enjoy a Nordic walk. At the foot of Jakobschornbahnen mountain,
there are trails of two, five, and eight miles long, especially designated for
Nordic walking. If you`re not familiar with Nordic walking, it is a low-impact
sport, slightly more challenging than walking, so it`s perfect for those who
want to challenge themselves, but aren`t up for extreme hiking. The trails are
generally level, making it a perfect outing for the entire family.
It`s no mystery that
Davos is one of Switzerland`s top winter sport destinations, so if you are here
in the winter months, you`ll want to spend a day (or two) hitting the slopes.
The village features more than 200 miles of downhill ski trails, reached via the Parsenn Red Railway, which
started shuttling up and down the mountain in the 1930s. Parsenn has long
winding trails where beginner and intermediate skiers can fine-tune their technique;
while more advanced skiers can search for fresh powder off the trails. If snowboarding is your thing, Jakobshorn is the mountain
for you as it has a snowpark and a `monster pipe` for big air.
Spend the evening at BierVision Monstein, home of
the highest brewery in Europe. You can get here by taking a 15-minute bus ride
or drive up the winding mountain road southwest of Davos. BierVision is open
for tours on Fridays, where you can get an education of the brewing process,
and see the brewing vats and fermentation up close. This is preceded by a
guided walk around the village, where you`ll meet a couple of locals and get to
know the way of life up here. BierVision produces five beer varieties, from
dark beer to Weissbier, which you can taste in the cozy Gambrinus Bar in the
basement.
Day 3 in Davos
We recommend spending your last day in Davos
enjoying more of the beautiful nature this area. Davos offers a multitude of
beautifully woodsy hiking and walking trails for all
interests and fitness levels. There are plenty of rugged trails that offer
several hours of intense hiking, as well as easier walks suitable for the whole
family. You may want to try a themed path, which is punctuated by discrete
information boars that combine adventure and education. The Sculpture Path, for
example, extends from Davos Fraunekirch to Stafelalp and is studded with
striking stone installations and trees carvings by local Swiss artists.
Another lovely way to spend a day is to take
the Schatz-Funicular up the mountains to explore the Alpine Botanical Gardens. Not only are there wonderful views and hikes from this from, but the
gardens are also home to a fascinating variety of flora and fauna, and even a
gorgeous waterfall. The hikes around the garden are not demanding, making the
Botanical Gardens the perfect outing for groups of all ages.
Now, if you are here in the winter months, you may want to take
advantage of some other winter activities. Cross-country
skiing is a great way to get out in nature and enjoy the amazing
views Davos has to offer. Davos hosts a stage of the FIS Cross-Country
World Cup every year at the Flüela Valley. What`s
great is when this route isn`t being used by the world`s best distance skiers,
you can ride it for yourself, free of charge. It`s one of more than 60 miles of
cross-country tracks, all meticulously prepared and carefully mapped out for
you to chart your journey.
Less exhausting
are the long tobogganing course that you can travel at high
speed on Rinerhorn and Schatzal. And back in the center of
the village, the Davos World of Ice is an outdoor skating rink like no other,
consisting of interconnected ramps and rinks. If you want to stop for a break,
there are market stalls pouring warm cups of mulled wine and hot chocolate.
For your last evening in Davos, take advantage of the lively
nightlife the town has to offer. No matter what time of year, you`ll find
something fun from dancing, clubbing, ultra chic bars, numerous delicious
restaurants, and possible celebrity sightings.
Additional Days in Davos
Should you be able to spend additional days in Davos
there are so many more activities to enjoy. You may want to take a train
ride through the Swiss Alps. Davos is a terminus for two of the most
famous railway lines in the world: The Glacier Express and Bernina
Express. The first is known as the `Slowest Fast Train in the World`,
and crosses the Swiss Alps from Graubünden to Valais, to admire legendary peaks
like the Matterhorn.
The Bernina
Express is another sightseeing line, weaving its way through the Bernina Range
down to Tirano in Italy. There’s an audioguide on board, enlighten riders the
natural wonders as you pass them and panoramic carriages providing breathtaking
views.
Another enjoyable adventure would be a day trip to Chur,
located about 90 minutes from Davos by car or bus. Chur is the capital of the
canton of Graubunden. This beautiful Swiss
village, set in the foothills of the Alps, has much to offer in terms of
restaurants, museums, and cultural history. Expect to see happy goats wearing
shiny brass bells roaming in nearby fields, alpine flowers, and magnificent
mountain views and immaculate cobblestone streets.
Your Last Day in Davos
Depart your hotel for the train station where you will head home or make your way to more Switzerland adventures. Savor the memories of a very special time in Davos.